Maximal Ep. 417 | Useless Things (Patreon)

The Minimalists talk about what makes a thing useless, why it’s not your responsibility to manage the expectations of others, letting go of outdated school materials, how to be environmentally friendly, why people pay for storage lockers, and much more. Plus, they speak with Kelly and Juliet Starrett about moving the human body and George Kamel about minimizing house debt.

Discussed in this episode:

What can I do with my old school lesson plans? (01:53)

How can I manage my father’s expectations without causing conflict? (11:53)

Should I sell my home so that I don’t have to worry about the mortgage as I approach retirement? (23:20)

How can I fulfill my spouse’s expectations around household chores? (34:55)

Why do people pay to keep things in storage lockers? (43:20)

What do The Minimalists’ think about Feng Shui? (53:30)

Why don’t the mathematics of consumerism add up? (57:45)

Should I amass or trash my old yearbooks? (01:04:00)

Why is Taylor Swift pathetic? (01:07:13)

Why does this Patron’s home look like it’s been staged for sale? (01:20:10)

What is mobility, and why is it important for longevity? (01:42:00)

LINKS

Added Value: 1DollarScan.com

Added Value: Drake, “Virginia Beach”

Added Value: Andy Davis, "Good Life"

Article: The Top 10 Items You Should Be Putting in Self-Storage

Book: Breaking Free from Broke

Book: Built to Move

Book: Everything That Remains

Essay: Photo-Scanning Party

Subscribe: The Minimalists' Newsletter

Website: Minimalist.org

Website: TheReadyState.com

Website: SundaySymposium.com

MAXIMS

When evaluating excess material possessions, “useless” is the honest way to say “just in case.”

It is not your responsibility to manage their expectations.

A free future is a simplified future.

You can set down every expectation you’ve picked up.

Every storage locker is filled with stories about the difficulties of letting go.

If you want a recipe for misery, worry about what other people do with their stuff.

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